Science Bazaar Beyond FREE Learning Resources
Resources
FREE learning resources for 5-12 years old (Years 1-6) including activities, handouts and videos. All resources have been developed and are delivered by Oxford Brookes staff and students!
Get ready to explore, discover, build, create and most importantly have fun!
Let's Write a Superpoem about Science!
Check out Jennifer's workshop for young science explorers and write a poem about the powers of Nature that fascinate you!
Numeracy Game Challenge
Why not have a go at these two fun numeracy games developed by Oxford Brookes Psychology student, Parmida Mohammadpour?
The first is a numeracy story game. This is an interactive story game that shows how numeracy is used in everyday life. You get to do activities involving playing with dice, baking, shopping, and pretend play.
The second game is battleship with a twist. This is a two-player game where you take it in turns reading numeracy question cards. If you answer a question correctly, you will get a chance to sink one of your opponents ships. The first person to sink all their opponents' ships wins.
EVs: Cell Messages
EVs (extracellular vesicles) or Exosomes are small packages of information released by cells in your body, which act as a rapid form of communication - like email for cells!! Explore the inside of a cell and see how EV messages are made in The Cells Secret Messengers video!
Cell biologist Dr Priya Samuel has sent you some messages to decode! Using the EV message decoder see if you can decipher what she is saying?
Once you have decoded your EV (Exosome) messages, watch this video by Lucy and see how to get creative to make something using the shapes and actions you have decoded!
Parasites - the original Transformers!
Join biologist Dr Jack Sunter to learn about amazing shapeshifting parasites and how they are used in research.
Why not have a go at drawing your own parasite? By answering a series of simple questions and drawing the answers you will be able to design your own parasite!
Self in the Brain
Join cognitive neuroscience researcher Dr Sanjay Kumar to discover how the self is represented in the brain and how the brain makes ourselves biased for something that relates to us. Then why not have a go at the Self in the Brain Quiz to test this hypothesis?
Microscopy
Find out how scientists make 3D models of tiny things like cells, using pictures taken by Merlin, the magical electron microscope.
Have you ever wondered how a 3D printer works? Watch as our 3D printer springs into frantic action to build an amazing 3D model of a real virus that looks like a lunar lander!
Jungle Explorers
Learn about life in the jungles of Indonesia and the animals that live there with conservation biologist Dr Susan Cheyne.
Why not download a Jungle Explorer’s activity pack to learn more about the wonderful wildlife of Indonesia?
Wildlife Friendly Coffee
Did you know that agricultural land can be a safe place for wildlife if the right trees and plants are included with crops? Through this interactive online game, learn how Oxford Brookes researchers are conserving the cute and cuddly slow loris and the animals it lives beside by helping coffee farmers to rewild their plantations.
The Zoo to You! Virtual tour of Shaldon Wildlife Trust
Zoo Director Zak leads us on a tour of one of the UK's smallest zoos - Shaldon Wildlife Trust in Devon - which specialise in rare and endangered species! Meet lemurs, monkeys, civets and more!
Training in the Dark
Did you know that zookeepers can train animals to do important routine behaviours with the sound of a clicker or the tap of a stick? In this way, animals do not need anaesthesia for routine injections and check ups. Here, zookeeper Carly shows you how Tina the Slow Loris was trained to have a collar fitted at Shaldon Wildlife Trust.
Recycling
What is recycling? Laura from Oxford Direct Services explains all!
Have you ever wondered what happens to your recycling once it has been collected? Discover the recycling journey in this fun video by Oxford Brookes students.
Superworms!
Did you know that worms are like Superheroes? No? Well, join molecular biology PhD student Elena as she explains how worms are used in science, what makes them special and why they are truly super! You can also make your own origami Superworm or take the Superworm personality quiz to see which Superworm you are!
Engineering
Follow along as engineer Dr Dan Bell shows you how to build your very own balloon powered rocket car! Why not make it your own by adding colour, wings, stickers? You can also discover the science which powers your rocket!
Do you want to be an engineer? Would you like to work in formula 1 racing? Students from Oxford Brookes racing team have challenged you to design what you think a future electric car will look like! Get thinking about aerodynamic shapes, how you will reduce drag and increase speed!
Nutrition
We all love chocolate, but is it actually good for you? Explore chocolate in nutrition and health with nutrition researcher Dr Shelly Coe.
Discover how nutrition researcher, Dr Rianne Costello uses ultrasound to assess body composition.
Get hands on with some fun nutrition themed activities created by nutrition students
In this activity you can discover about the nutrients available in the foods we eat and why it is important to get enough nutrients.
In this colouring activity you can learn about the stages of banana ripening.
Do you know how much sugar is in some of your favourite foods? See if you can guess correctly in this fun video.
Learn to make a healthy and delicious snack with this yummy French toast recipe.
Saving History: A Look into the Archives!
Join Tom as he guides you through the Oxford Brookes archives!
History Meets Chemistry: Paper and Ink
Have you ever thought about the paper and ink used to create books, newspapers and magazines? Are they all the same? Discover more about the history and science of publishing with Peter.
Squaring Like Smethan
Do you keep a diary? James Smethan did. Instead of writing about his day Smethan would make a doodle to record each day. Why not have a go at this creative journaling technique?
Confucius Institute at Oxford Brookes
From spring rolls to noodles, who doesn’t love Chinese dishes! Learn to make your own authentic Chinese meal from home and enjoy a delicious taste of China in your kitchen!
In Chinese culture, the Spring Festival celebrates the beginning of a new year. Create a 3D paper cut of chūn 春 to display for the Spring Festival. You can use your chūn to decorate your home to celebrate.
This session will teach attendees step by step to produce a paper folded frog to leap into the new year!
FREE learning resources for 11-14 years old (Years 7-9) including activities and videos. All resources have been developed and are delivered by Oxford Brookes staff.
Get ready to discover, explore and question!
Rise of the Moral Machine
Explore whether machines know if they are being good or bad in a series of three talks delivered by artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics researcher, Professor Nigel Crook.
Reimagining Disaster Recovery: The impact of natural hazards on everyday life
Geography researcher Dr Sophie Blackburn explores how to best help people and communities rebuild their lives and livelihoods after they have been affected by natural disasters such as tsunamis. In her video and podcast Sophie discusses some of her research and then invites you to build your own post disaster recovery story.
Indigenous Science
For millions of years, humans learned science from their surroundings and many still do so today. Prof Joy Hendry introduces her full talk where she discusses indigenous science.
While you and I may have learned science at school, many people around the world absorb scientific knowledge about their environment by living within it. Generations before them developed ways of gaining sustenance from their surroundings, of loving healthily, and of providing for all their needs through observation, experiment and recording knowledge in art, song and stories.
Science and Religion: True Stories of Believers Changing the World!
Lots of people think that religion and science don't work together, but many famous scientists were or are religious people. Kate Harford, University Chaplain and Pastoral Care Lead at Oxford Brookes in this video tells the stories of some of them and we hope they will inspire you to engage with science - whether you are religious or not.
FREE learning resource for 14-18 years old (Key Stage 4 and 5). Resource is developed and delivered by Oxford Brookes staff.
Looking Inside Cells Using Electrons
Have you ever wondered how scientists take pictures of the internal cell structures such as mitochondria or the nucleus? Or how scientists look at small particles like ribosomes and viruses?
In this session, a scientist from Oxford Brookes Centre for Bioimaging will show how electrons can be blasted onto cells to generate the most incredible pictures of the cell’s interior. You will find out how tissues and cells can be prepared for imaging at the smallest possible scale. We will then look at cells together in the huge transmission electron microscope, the mighty magnifier used to look at the tiniest things!
Session structure:
- General explanation about how transmission electron microscopy works, with simple diagrams and models.
- Getting from live tissues/cells to sections on a TEM grid - simple explanation of the chemistry required, resin embedding and sectioning, showing blocks with embedded cells, a diamond knife and the TEM grid down the microscope.
- Imaging session showing how to insert samples into the microscope while keeping vacuum, then imaging a sample tissue. Showing different organelles and structures, with brief explanations. Opportunity for questions.
How do we tackle colour blindness in sport? Join Dr Adam Bibbey, Dr John Jakeman and Daisy Lee as they talk about their research. Learn about colour blindness and have a go at their fun activity to design kit and equipment to help those with colour visual deficiencies (CVD).
What is antibiotic resistance and why should we be concerned? Join researcher Dr Hee-Jeon to learn about bacteria, antibiotics and antibiotic resistance. You can also have a go at a cool Bugs vs Drugs board game!
Join Nitro Jen from Bright Sparks Science as she guides you through making Tongue Tingling Sherbet, Bath Bombs and Super Slime!
Discover FORTe, the world’s largest study into the effects of exercise on the successful treatment of children with cancer, conducted by researchers Dr Kim Straun, Stan Windsor and Hayley Marriott.
Eggs-plore what happens inside a butterfly egg by making a flip book in a resource developed by Oxford Brookes researcher Dr Casper Breuker and UKCEH scientist Dr Melanie Gibbs as part of their FREE educational project Butterflies Under Pressure.
Have you ever wondered how bubbles are made? Nitro Jen of Bright Sparks Science has shared her secret bubble recipe with us! Why not have a go at making MEGA bubbles!!
Or discover the importance of hand washing with public health researcher Dr Mamdooh Alzyood.